The powers which are conferred and the duties which are imposed
upon any commission, board, agency, department or office under the
General Statutes or any ordinance or regulation in force at the time
this Charter shall take effect, if such commission, board, agency,
department or office is abolished by this Charter or superseded by
the creation herein of a new commission, board, agency, or office
to which are granted similar powers and jurisdiction, shall be thereafter
exercised and discharged by the commission, board, agency, department
or office upon which are imposed corresponding or like functions,
powers and duties under the provisions of this Charter. All commissions,
boards, agencies, departments or offices abolished by this Charter,
whether elective or appointive, shall continue in the performance
of their duties until provisions have been made for the discontinuance
of such commissions, boards, agencies, departments or offices and
the performance of their duties by other commissions, boards, agencies,
departments or offices created under this Charter.
All employees of the Town on the effective date of this Charter
whose positions are not abolished by the provisions of this Charter
shall retain such positions pending action by the Board of Selectmen
or the appropriate officer charged by this Charter with powers of
appointment and removal. Any provisions of law in force at the time
that this Charter shall take effect, and not inconsistent with the
provisions of this Charter, in relation to personnel, appointments,
ranks, grades, tenure of office, promotions, removals, pension and
retirement rights, civil rights or any other rights or privileges
of employees of the Town or any office, department or agency thereof,
shall continue to be in effect, until or unless amended or repealed
in accordance with the provisions of this Charter.
All records, property and equipment whatsoever of any commission,
board, authority, department or office part thereof, all powers and
duties which are assigned to any other commission, board, department
or office by this Charter shall be transferred and delivered intact
forthwith to the commission, board, agency, department or office to
which such powers and duties are so assigned. If part of the powers
and duties of any commission, board, authority, department or office
are by this Charter assigned to another commission, board, authority,
department or office, all records, property and equipment relating
exclusively thereto shall be transferred and delivered intact forthwith
to the commission, board, authority, department or office to which
such powers and duties are assigned.
All appropriations approved and in force, and all funds, including
special or reserve funds in the name of the Town, at the time of the
adoption of this Charter, shall remain in full force and effect unless
and until the same shall be amended, transferred or abolished by the
Board of Selectmen under the provision of this Charter.
No action or proceedings, civil or criminal, pending on the
effective date of this Charter brought by or against the Town or any
commission, board, authority, department or office thereof, shall
be affected or abated by the adoption of this Charter or by anything
herein contained; but all such actions or proceedings may be continued
notwithstanding that functions, powers and duties of any commission,
board, authority, department or office which shall have been a party
thereto may, by or under this Charter, be assigned or transferred
to another commission, board, authority, department or the officer
to which such functions, powers and duties have been assigned or transferred
by or under this Charter.
As of the effective date of this Charter, all general laws and
special acts applying to the Town, all ordinances and bylaws of the
Town, and all rules and regulations of commissions, boards, authorities,
departments and agencies of the Town shall continue in force, except
insofar as they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter
or are repealed.
The Board of Selectmen shall review the several provisions of
this Charter from time to time as it deems such review to be in the
best interest of the Town, but at least once every five years, said
review to be filed with the Town Clerk, who shall publish notice of
receipt of said report. Amendments to this Charter shall be in accordance
with C.G.S. Chapter 99, as the same may be from time to time amended.
If any section or part of any section of this Charter shall
be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction such holding
shall not affect the remainder of this Charter nor the context in
which said section or part thereof held invalid may appear, except
to the extent that an entire section or part of a section may be inseparably
connected in meaning and effect with the section or part of the section
to which such ruling shall directly apply.
Any elected or appointed member of any board, agency, commission
or similar body who wishes to resign from office shall do so in writing
to the Town Clerk with a copy forwarded to the Chairman of the Board
of Selectmen and the Chairman of said agency or similar body. Said
resignation shall become effective upon acceptance by a vote of the
Board of Selectmen. Resignation by the Town Clerk shall be filed with
the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Vacancies shall be filled
in accordance with Sections 208 and 703.
This Charter shall become effective upon the approval of a majority
of the electors voting at a regular election on November 5, 2019,
in accordance with the provisions of C.G.S. § 7-191, as
amended; provided, however, no provision of this Charter shall be
implemented until November 19, 2019.
Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, appointed officials
serving a specific term on the effective date of this Charter shall
continue to serve until the expiration of the term, unless the office
or position is abolished. As terms expire or are vacated, the Selectmen
may, as necessary make appointments for a short term in order to achieve
the regular rotation of appointments so as to provide that members
of appointed boards serve four-year overlapping terms.
Notice for public hearing, Town Meeting, and Annual Town Budget
Referendum shall be given at least five days in advance by publication
in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town and by posting
a notice in a public place, unless otherwise governed by state statute.